DOCSLIB.ORG

Guard Times Magazine

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Guard Times Magazine Families Face Challenges, page 5 Heartbreak in New York, pages 6,7 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit #3071 Syracuse, NY XPANDED E PLAN ! PATRIOT INSIDE '05 BENEFITS YOUR Volume 12 , Number 6 November-December 2004 From Ground Zero to the Sunni Triangle Homecoming Ceremony Held for Valiant Guard Infantry Battalion at Fort Drum FORT DRUM By Lt. Col. Paul Fanning Guard Times Staff Thousands of military family members jammed Fort Drum’s Magrath Gymnasium on the day after New Year’s to welcome their heroes home — more than 700 members of the New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry and its attached supporting units, Jan. 2. “Task Force Hunter” had returned to the post from where they had left more than 10 months ago for Operation Iraqi Freedom, to begin out-processing from active duty. Nearly 2,000 cheering family members, relatives and friends with banners, signs, ribbons and balloons were on hand. The Sunday evening ceremony saw a record turnout of news organizations from across the state. The Adjutant General of New York, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Maguire, Jr. formally received the unit – the symbolic return to state control of a federally activated Guard unit and during his remarks, praised the Soldiers for their service and professionalism. He went on to praise family members and friends and the Fort Drum Garrison for the support that was rendered throughout the mobilization period. In closing, General Maguire called forward Camden Russell, age 3, who was dressed in his own desert battle dress uniform, and reunited him with his father, Spc. Alan Russell, before the cheering and delighted crowd. Federally activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom II on Oct. 1, 2003, the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry is the first N.Y. National Guard infantry organization ordered to federal active duty for wartime service since World War II. History-Making NY National Guard Unit The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry is one of three infantry battalions assigned to the 27th Separate Infantry Brigade (Enhanced) of the New York Army National Guard. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and the War on Terror was launched, these infantry units have been heavily used in either state or federal active duty for Homeland Defense inside the state of New York, including service at Ground Zero, airport security and protecting New York’s nuclear power facilities. Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry render honors during the playing of the National Anthem. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith) Story continued on page 2 Page 2 Guard Times Homecoming, the call up, its membership was intact. continued from cover page The readiness levels of infantry soldiers in all three battalions and the chance to serve In the summer of 2003, the Pentagon in a combat assignment drew many additional activated several Army National Guard volunteers from the 105th Infantry and also enhanced brigade combat units for from the 1st Battalion, 108th Infantry. As a Operation Iraqi Freedom II and an infantry result the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry was battalion from N.Y.’s 27th Brigade was called comprised of some of the best, most ready and highly motivated infantry Soldiers of the elite 27th Brigade and the New York nd th Army National Guard. The 2nd Battalion, “The 2 Battalion, 108 Infantry 108th Infantry comes from the following has proven that reserve communities: component units can not only Headquarters and Headquarters Company do the mission, but...can be – Utica Armory among the best in the Army.” (Reinforced with Soldiers from the former Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry, Schenectady) —Maj. Gen. John Batiste, Company A – Leeds, Camp Smith in Commanding General, 1st Infantry Cortlandt Manor Division (Reformed primarily with soldiers from Companies A, B and C of the 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry from New York City, Camps up. The 2nd Battalion, 108th was identified Smith and Leeds) since the 105th Infantry had already begun Company B – Morrisonville (Plattsburgh), Army scheduled reorganization and many Saranac Lake, Whitehall, with former soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 108th Infantry detachments in Malone and Ogdensburg were already on federal active duty protecting (Comprised mostly of original Company B military air bases inside New York State. The members of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry) planned conversion of the 2nd Battalion Company C – Gloversville, Glens Falls was to come after the other two units had (Comprised of original Company C members completed their conversion, so, at the time of from Saratoga Springs, which transferred to Getting acquainted with dad. (Photo by Spc. Dennis Gravelle) the Glens Falls armory. Some Soldiers from the New York City-based companies of the 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry were also transferred into this unit.) Company D – Rome (Mostly original 2nd Battalion soldiers from this armory, reinforced with selected soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 108th Infantry, Syracuse and Oswego, and former members of Company D, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry, Troy) For the deployment, additional support elements were added to the battalion task force from other 27th Brigade units. These included: Medics – From Company C, 427th Support Battalion, Glens Falls. Engineer Platoon – From the 827th Engineer Company from the Connecticut St. Armory, Soldiers await reunion with family. (Photo by Buffalo. Spc. Dennis Gravelle) Artillery Forward Observers (known as the Fire Support Team or FIST) – From Headquarters and Service Battery 1st the 2nd Battalion that, although it was training Battalion, 156th Field Artillery, Kingston at the same time as the 30th Brigade and and Rochester. would move into the Iraqi theater along with the 30th, it would actually be operating The combined task force strength for the separately from the brigade throughout most deployment was 760 troops. of its mission. The 30th performed most of its training at Fort Bragg, N.C., while the 2nd Combat Assignment and Battalion, 108th Infantry trained at Fort Drum. Preparations The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry linked up The battalion was activated at the same with the 30th Brigade for a major exercise at time as the North Carolina 30th Separate the Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Enhanced). at Fort Polk, La., in January 2004. Ironically, The light infantry structure of New York’s the 2nd Battalion completed a rotation at the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry contributed to JRTC in 2001 along with the entire N.Y. 27th its selection by Army Forces Command as Brigade. These troops returned to N.Y. just Family members cheer for 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry Division Soldiers at the Magrath Gymnasium, reinforcing element to the 30th Brigade. three weeks prior to the terrorist attacks in Fort Drum, during the homecoming ceremony Dec. 2. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith) Prior to deployment, the Army informed New York City and Washington on Sept. 11, Guard Times Page 3 2001. In the wake of 9-11 service and in between state and federal missions, 27th Brigade infantry troops, including the presently assigned members of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry participated in a number of intense infantry-related exercises at home and overseas in 2002 and 2003. These included small unit exchange training programs, urban warfare exercises in Germany, England and at various other sites. Following months of training, a send off ceremony for the battalion was held last February at Fort Drum. Eleven members of Company A took the oath of U.S. citizenship at a departure ceremony in the MaGrath Gym. Sadly one of these Soldiers, Spc. Segun Akintade, an immigrant from Nigeria, was lost on Oct. 28, 2004. Service in Iraq Lt. Col. Mark Warnecke, Commander, Task The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry deployed Force Hunter, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. Family members personalize a welcome home sign for Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. (Photo by Spc. Dennis Gravelle) (Photo by Spc. Dennis Gravelle) to Iraq in February 2003 and was assigned to the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division, “the Big Red One.” The various subordinate regarding the ongoing role of reserve infantry companies were given separate component units. Maj. Gen. John Batiste assignments and performed a variety of other said, “The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry has missions with Big Red One units. These proven that reserve component units can included area security, patrols, raids and not only do the mission, but that they can be offensive operations. among the best in the Army.” In addition, Task Force Hunter captured numerous weapons caches, helped train new Sacrifice in the Name of Freedom Iraqi National Guard members, provided Three members of the battalion gave the medical, logistical and civil support to Iraqi ultimate sacrifice to the nation and were villages, schools, mosques and families, Killed in Action and nearly 30 members of recovered Thomas Hamill, a Mississippi the battalion have been awarded the Purple truck driver who had been kidnapped last Heart Medal for combat wounds: Apr. 11, spring by insurgents, and helped recapture Spc. Nathan P. Brown, age 21 – from South Samarra in September from insurgent forces Glens Falls, assigned to Company C; Oct. 1, during joint U.S. and Iraqi operations. Sgt. Michael Angelo Uvanni, age 27 – from During the homecoming ceremony, the Rome, assigned to Headquarters Company, battalion adjutant read the text of a quote detailed to Company B at the time of his provided from the commanding general of death; Oct. 28, Spc. Segun Frederick the First Infantry Division, in response to a Akintade, age 34 – from Brooklyn, assigned Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Maguire, Jr., holds Camden Russell, son of Spc. Alan question from the Secretary of the Army to Company A. ! Russell, before reuniting them. (Photo by Spc.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • September 12, 2006 the Honorable John Warner, Chairman The
    GENERAL JOHN SHALIKASHVILI, USA (RET.) GENERAL JOSEPH HOAR, USMC (RET.) ADMIRAL GREGORY G. JOHNSON, USN (RET.) ADMIRAL JAY L. JOHNSON, USN (RET.) GENERAL PAUL J. KERN, USA (RET.) GENERAL MERRILL A. MCPEAK, USAF (RET.) ADMIRAL STANSFIELD TURNER, USN (RET.) GENERAL WILLIAM G. T. TUTTLE JR., USA (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL DANIEL W. CHRISTMAN, USA (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL PAUL E. FUNK, USA (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL ROBERT G. GARD JR., USA (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAY M. GARNER, USA (RET.) VICE ADMIRAL LEE F. GUNN, USN (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL ARLEN D. JAMESON, USAF (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL CLAUDIA J. KENNEDY, USA (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL DONALD L. KERRICK, USA (RET.) VICE ADMIRAL ALBERT H. KONETZNI JR., USN (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHARLES OTSTOTT, USA (RET.) VICE ADMIRAL JACK SHANAHAN, USN (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL HARRY E. SOYSTER, USA (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL PAUL K. VAN RIPER, USMC (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL JOHN BATISTE, USA (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL EUGENE FOX, USA (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL JOHN L. FUGH, USA (RET.) REAR ADMIRAL DON GUTER, USN (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL FRED E. HAYNES, USMC (RET.) REAR ADMIRAL JOHN D. HUTSON, USN (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL MELVYN MONTANO, ANG (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL GERALD T. SAJER, USA (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL J. SCOTTI JR., USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID M. BRAHMS, USMC (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES P. CULLEN, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL EVELYN P. FOOTE, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID R. IRVINE, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN H. JOHNS, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD O’MEARA, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL MURRAY G. SAGSVEEN, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN K. SCHMITT, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL ANTHONY VERRENGIA, USAF (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL STEPHEN N.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq: Is the Escalation Working?
    IRAQ: IS THE ESCALATION WORKING? HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JUNE 27, 2007 Serial No. 110–87 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 36–423PDF WASHINGTON : 2007 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS TOM LANTOS, California, Chairman HOWARD L. BERMAN, California ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American DAN BURTON, Indiana Samoa ELTON GALLEGLY, California DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey DANA ROHRABACHER, California BRAD SHERMAN, California DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois ROBERT WEXLER, Florida EDWARD R. ROYCE, California ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York STEVE CHABOT, Ohio BILL DELAHUNT, Massachusetts THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York RON PAUL, Texas DIANE E. WATSON, California JEFF FLAKE, Arizona ADAM SMITH, Washington JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri MIKE PENCE, Indiana JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee JOE WILSON, South Carolina GENE GREEN, Texas JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas CONNIE MACK, Florida RUBE´ N HINOJOSA, Texas JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas DAVID WU, Oregon TED POE, Texas BRAD MILLER, North Carolina BOB INGLIS, South Carolina LINDA T.
    [Show full text]
  • The Brookings Institution Breathing the Fire: Fighting
    THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION BREATHING THE FIRE: FIGHTING TO REPORT — AND SURVIVE — THE WAR IN IRAQ Washington, D.C. Wednesday, June 25, 2008 PARTICIPANTS: Introduction and Moderator MICHAEL E. O'HANLON Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Keynote Remarks KIMBERLY DOZIER Correspondent, CBS News Panelists LT. GEN. PETER CHIARELLI Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense U.S. Department of Defense MARTHA RADDATZ White House Correspondent, ABC News * * * * * REPORTING2008/06/25 2 P R O C E E D I N G S MR. O’HANLON: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Brookings. I’m Mike O’Hanlon, and I’m honored and very pleased today to have Kimberly Dozier speaking on her book, Breathing the Fire, account of her experiences in Iraq. And that will lead us into a panel discussion with Martha Raddatz of ABC and General Pete Chiarelli of the U.S. Army. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to discuss a number of issues that are raised by Kimberly’s excellent book, including the broader issue of media coverage of the war and how that factors into the nation’s resolve and support for the effort. We will invite you to chime in fairly quickly in the conversation. General Chiarelli has until a little after 2:00. So I’ll invite you also to direct questions you may have for him in the earlier part of the discussion. And on the way out, around 2:30’ish or so, please feel free to take a complimentary copy, as long as they last, of Kimberly’s book that her publisher has kindly provided to us here.
    [Show full text]
  • Anatomy of a National Security Fiasco: the George W. Bush Administration, Iraq, and Groupthink Phillip G
    Anatomy of a National Security Fiasco: The George W. Bush Administration, Iraq, and Groupthink Phillip G. Henderson The Catholic University of America These were people who were selectively picking and then emphasizing pieces of intelligence, I believe, in order to support their larger purpose, which was to bring in a way that they thought possible, to bring democracy to Iraq, and through Iraq to transform the Middle East. I thought that was far-fetched. I didn’t think it was going to happen, but that was their real purpose. They thought that this was going to be a transforming event in history. My frustration is that there was never a national security decision- making process in the administration where people such as me really had a chance to take that on. Richard Haass, Director of Policy Planning at the State Department 2001-2003, Interview with Chris Matthews on “Hardball,” May 6, 2009 In February 2002, one year before the U.S. military intervention in Iraq began, neoconservative writer Ken Adelman predicted that demolishing Saddam Hussein’s regime and liberating Iraq would be a “cakewalk.”1 At a town hall meeting at the Ameri- PHILLIP G. HENDERSON is Associate Professor of Politics at The Catholic University of America. Work on this article was supported by a research grant from the Center for the Study of Statesmanship. 1 Ken Adelman, “Cakewalk in Iraq,” The Washington Post, 13 February 2002, A27. 46 • Volume XXXI, Nos. 1 and 2, 2018 Phillip G. Henderson can air base in Aviano, Italy, on February 7, 2003, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld added that, if force were to be used in Iraq, the war “could last six days, six weeks.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Template
    neocon_cover_print 8.29.06.pdf 8/29/2006 5:33:01 PM The Third Way National Security Project THE NEO CON C The Bush Defense Record by the Numbers M Y CM A Third Way Report MY By CY Sharon Burke, Director Of The National Security Project CMY K Harlan Geer, National Security Policy Advisor September 2006 Our nation—this generation—will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. President George W. Bush (Address to Joint Session of Congress, September 20, 2001) Regime change in Iraq would bring about a number of benefits to the region. When the gravest of threats are eliminated, the freedom-loving peoples of the region will have a chance to promote the values that can bring lasting peace. As for the reaction of the Arab 'street,' the Middle East expert Professor Fouad Ajami predicts that after liberation, the streets in Basra and Baghdad are 'sure to erupt in joy in the same way the throngs in Kabul greeted the Americans.' Extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of Jihad. Moderates throughout the region would take heart. And our ability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be enhanced, just as it was following the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. Vice President Dick Cheney (Speech to the VFW in Nashville, August 26, 2002) North Korea is firing missiles. Iran is going nuclear.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007 No. 140 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was THE JOURNAL for host country resident personal services contractors of the Peace Corps. called to order by the Speaker pro tem- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pore (Ms. DEGETTE). Chair has examined the Journal of the f f last day’s proceedings and announces ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER to the House her approval thereof. DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- PRO TEMPORE nal stands approved. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Chair will entertain up to five 1-minute fore the House the following commu- Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, speeches per side. nication from the Speaker: rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to f WASHINGTON, DC, the Speaker’s approval of the Journal. September 20, 2007. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The JENA, LOUISIANA I hereby appoint the Honorable DIANA question is on the Speaker’s approval (Ms. KILPATRICK asked and was DEGETTE to act as Speaker pro tempore on of the Journal. given permission to address the House this day. The question was taken; and the NANCY PELOSI, for 1 minute.) Speaker of the House of Representatives. Speaker pro tempore announced that Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, the ayes appeared to have it.
    [Show full text]
  • Witness Biographies
    Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing “An Oversight Hearing on the Planning and Conduct of the War in Iraq” Witness Biographies John R.S. Batiste Major General, U.S. Army (Retired) General John Batiste recently joined Klein Steel as its president after 31 years of service in the U.S. Army. He retired from active duty on November 1, 2005. General Batiste is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and the Army War College. He also earned a master’s degree in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. General Batiste has served in multiple assignments in the Army, including infantry officer, executive officer of the Fort Benning Infantry School, brigade operations officer, plans officer for the NATO Southern Region, assistant division commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, and senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He has served in Operations Desert Shield and Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom II. General Batiste’s most recent assignment was as commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division from August 2002 to June 2005. During this timeframe, the “Big Red One” conducted successful peace enforcement operations in Kosovo and combat operations in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. In Iraq, the division was deployed to north-central Iraq from February 2004 until February 2005, and included 22,000 soldiers from active and reserve component units from throughout the United States. General Batiste and his wife Michelle have been married for 29 years and have five children. Paul D. Eaton Major General, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Boletín 154 Otras Cosas Que No Te Cuentan Sobre La Guerra De Iraq (4
    Boletín 154 Otras cosas que no te cuentan sobre la guerra de Iraq (4). Más destrucción y muerte en Iraq gracias a la democracia made in USA. Asesinato de científicos que trabajaron en la contaminación radiactiva. Aumento de las deserciones en el ejército Iraquí. Caída de la moral en el ejército USA. Aumento de las deserciones y suicidios. Aumento de la oposición al reclutamiento. Aumento de la disidencia en el ejército. El ejército USA se desliza por la pendiente que lleva a la ruptura. Alfredo Embid. Más destrucción y muerte en Iraq gracias a la democracia made in USA. Todos los iraquíes saben hoy lo que representa en realidad la “democracia” que les ha traído EEUU. La destrucción del país es evidente y les recuerda a la población cada día como era Iraq antes y después de la invasión (1). Fotos: Bagdad antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Calles de Bagdad antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Samara antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Samara antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Arpa de Ur antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Bibliotaca de Bagdad antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Puentes de Bagdad antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Calle Al - Mutanabi antes y después de la invasión 2003. Foto: Niños iraquíes antes y después de la invasión 2003. El deterioro de las condiciones de vida es evidente desde todos los puntos de vista. Hemos insistido anteriormente en el insólito aumento de la mortalidad infantil (2). Solo un 30% de los niños iraquíes tienen acceso a agua limpia, la diarrea es la segunda causa de enfermedad y de muerte infantil.
    [Show full text]
  • General Joseph Hoar, Usmc (Ret.) Lieutenant General Robert G
    GENERAL JOSEPH HOAR, USMC (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL ROBERT G. GARD, JR., USA (RET.) VICE ADMIRAL LEE F. GUNN, USN (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL CLAUDIA J. KENNEDY, USA (RET.) VICE ADMIRAL AL KONETZNI, USN (RET.) LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHARLES OTSTOTT, USA (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL JOHN BATISTE, USA (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL JOHN L. FUGH, USA (RET.) REAR ADMIRAL DONALD J. GUTER, USN (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL FRED E. HAYNES, USMC (RET.) REAR ADMIRAL JOHN D. HUTSON, USN (RET.) MAJOR GENERAL MELVYN MONTANO, ANG (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID M. BRAHMS, USMC (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES CULLEN, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL EVELYN P. FOOTE, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID R. IRVINE, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL MURRAY G. SAGSVEEN, USA (RET.) BRIGADIER GENERAL STEPHEN N. XENAKIS, USA (RET.) COLONEL LAWRENCE B. WILKERSON, USA (RET.) AMBASSADOR/FORMER VIETNAM POW DOUGLAS "PETE" PETERSON, USAF (RET.) July 7, 2006 The Honorable Arlen Specter, Chairman The Honorable Patrick Leahy, Ranking Member Senate Judiciary Committee 224 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Chairman Specter and Senator Leahy: As retired military leaders of the U.S. Armed Forces, we write to express our deep concern about the nomination of William J. Haynes II, General Counsel for the Department of Defense, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. We send this letter reluctantly and after much reflection; none of us has publicly expressed concerns about any other nominee to the federal bench. What compels us to take this unusual step is our profound concern about the role Mr. Haynes played in establishing – over the objections of uniformed military lawyers – detention and interrogation policies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo which led not only to the abuse of detainees in U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Major General John Batiste Was Commissioned As an Infantry Officer
    Major General John Batiste, US Army (Retired) President and CEO, Klein Steel Service Center Inc January 2013 John Batiste joined Klein Steel Service in November 2005 after 31 years of service in the US Army. He retired from active duty on November 1st, 2005 and transitioned to Klein Steel in Rochester, New York the same month. He and his wife Michelle were married in 1977 and have five children. Michelle has been a strong advocate for military families through multiple extended deployments. John was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1974. Over the next 31 years, he served in a variety of leadership and staff positions, to include platoon, company, battalion, brigade, and division command. His major combat and peace enforcement experience included deployments to Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Storm from August 1990 to April 1991, to Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Implementation Force mission from December 1995 to November 1996, and again to Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 from January 2004 to February 2005. John’s final assignment in the Army was commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division from August 2002-June 2005. During this timeframe, the “Big Red One” conducted successful peace enforcement operations in Kosovo and combat operations in Iraq. The division combat team was deployed to north-central Iraq from February 2004 until February 2005 and included 22,000 soldiers from active and reserve component units from across the United States. John is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and the Army War College. He earned a masters degree in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Annual Report President’S Message
    2020 ANNUAL REPORT PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE rom a global pandemic, to civil unrest, to waves of political change and calls for reform and defunding the police, the Fpolicing profession has been weathering one massive storm after another. I feel truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to represent the global policing profession and to have been able to withstand this storm alongside all of you. I would like to thank you for your service as law enforcement professionals and for your work and leadership on behalf of the IACP. Our work and involvement continued with the Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice (Commission), the first U.S. commission on law enforcement in half a century, and a policy priority of the IACP’s that the association had been driving for years. In 2020, I had the honor of testifying before the U.S. Congress on police reform issues and advocating for preserving qualified immunity, adopting the National Consensus Use of Force Policy, making participation in the FBI’s National Use of Force Database mandatory, and obtaining the resources needed to maintain and increase the use of the national database of decertified police officers. Through this global pandemic, the IACP has stood ready to ensure you had the tools and resources needed to keep you, your officers, and your communities safe as you faced the unprecedented emerging issue of COVID-19. We worked quickly to develop a centralized COVID-19 resource clearinghouse with more than 30 new resources on important topics like policy considerations, health and safety, and response to communities and victims.
    [Show full text]
  • How Security Threat Discourse Can Precipitate a Press Clause Death Spiral
    HOW SECURITY THREAT DISCOURSE CAN PRECIPITATE A PRESS CLAUSE DEATH SPIRAL Robert Bejesky* ABSTRACT Consistent with the rationales for the inclusion of the Press Clause in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1791, international norms currently presume that an independent news media system is a pivotal element of democracy because broadcasters and news outlets can widely disseminate information to citizens, register alternative views on issues of public concern, and exercise oversight of government officials to reduce the incidence of imprudent, unethical, and illegal acts. These merits of the media are imperative during wartime and perceived national security crises due to the complexities in the sharing of constitutional war powers and the prospect of citizens bearing prolonged sacrifices and cost, but a security-imbued atmosphere of reporting poses distinct challenges to effective media performance. This Article applies a rational choice model to the events surrounding the Iraq War to depict how suboptimal reporting and the interrelated trajectory of public opinion and the tone of media coverage were a function of corporate power, profit motive, and structural characteristics of the media; the Executive’s ability to engage in agenda setting, frame official sourcing, and employ institutions of the Executive Branch to curtail critical reporting; and the news media’s choices regarding coverage of three essential variables—perceptions of security threats, patriotism for the military and troops, and facilitation of a humanitarian outcome. * M.A., University of Michigan, Political Science; M.A., University of Michigan, Applied Economics; LL.M., Georgetown Law, International Law. The Author has taught international law courses for Western Michigan University Thomas M.
    [Show full text]